Still Working on It

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble;

and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Psalm 112:7

He [the righteous] shall not be afraid of evil tidings:

his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

It has been a week to work on putting my trust in the proper source - the Lord.  All things are in his hands.  He does all things well.  I just need to rest in Him ... so easy to say, so hard to practice.

Headed to the mountains this afternoon to pick some apples.  We had just missed the Macs last year, but should be right in the middle of the season if we make it this afternoon!  Hubby is looking forward to some fresh cider juiced at home and I just like snacking on a good fresh apple and hope to can some applesauce!

Back to School

It was not hard to choose what to be thankful for today.  I am thankful for the start of another semester.  We are halfway through our training here.  Only 3 semesters to go - if the Lord wills.  Hubby again has a busy schedule which includes Life of Christ, Pentateuch, Homiletics, Greek (part 3), Poetical Books, Bible Geography and Archeology, and Dispensations.  It should be a good semester.  Hubby is looking forward to getting into Greek again and having the challenge of a particularly strict teacher for Bible Geography (along with the interest in the subject).  I will soon be back to violin lessons.  I did not do as well on practice this summer, but will benefit from the accountability that the school year provides.

Good Manners

"[charity] doth not behave itself unseemly,"

I Corinthians 13:5

Love is mannerly.  Love knows how to behave in all situations.  There is such a joy in being married to someone who knows how to act in social situations.  True love will work to be appropriate in speech, in dress, in behavior in any situation that it is in.  How I long to be a "crown" to my husband by showing good manners wherever we are.  For me the work is to be appropriate in a "shooting" party, or when out camping - these are more unfamiliar than "stuffy" occasions.  Hubby on the other hand has to work harder at the formal events.  We were privileged to have such a social situation to be involved in this past weekend.  I was pleased when hubby wanted to arrive appropriately early, when my usually possessive hubby bowed to tradition as the usher seated us, when we were seated a few times in "awkward" company and hubby rose to the occasion in involving all around us in conversation.  On the flip side, I was embarrassed for those who stalled the beginning of the wedding by arriving so close to the start of the wedding that they could not sign the guest pages and be seated before the given time. 

Love also knows the right way to express itself in public without becoming cold and without making others uncomfortable. 

Today was a big yard work day.  It has been slowly cooling off, so there was much to do.  The yard was mowed, some dead flowers pulled, some vegetables trimmed back, some mulching done.  It is a good start - still much to do, but it will keep until tomorrow.  Time to clean up in the house!

Psalm 113

Psalm 113:9

He maketh the barren woman to keep house,

and to be a joyful mother of children.

Praise ye the LORD.

This verse never ceases to encourage my faith and prayers when I read it.  While it may be that God will never bless our home with children, there are many ways to be a teacher and nurturer to those that I come in contact with.  Praise ye the LORD!

Nothing to share

Due to a wedding rehearsal dinner and a wedding reception, I did not do much cooking this weekend.  The rehearsal dinner was delicious with salad, prime rib, baked potato, and mixed veggies.  There was a rich cake for dessert, but it was chocolate, so I passed.  Hubby even passed on his ... it was VERY tempting.  At the weddinge reception there was wonderful bbq pork with rolls to make sandwiches, potato salad, cole slaw, and baked beans.  It too was delicious.  The wedding cake offered 4 different flavors - chocolate, spice, carrot, and strawberry.  Hubby had chocolate, I had strawberry.

Hubby cooked on Sunday.  We threw some potatoes on the grill and made chicken kabobs with garden peppers and onions - YUM! 

Congratulations James and Elisabeth

Here is a picture of the wedding cross-stitch that I was recently working on.  We are headed to the wedding later this afternoon.  James has been the song leader in our church this since last summer and his bride was also a student at ABC and has helped with church music this summer, allowing me to take a break from the piano to either play the flute on Sunday nights or to sing beside hubby on Wednesday nights.  They are now headed to a new ministry. 

Congratulations James and Elisabeth!

Different Weekend

It is hard to believe that it is Friday already.  I spent much of the week putting  a Sunday School program together and dodging raindrops with my laundry.  Tonight we will go to a wedding rehearsal dinner.  I don't have a big part, and it is definitely a different role.  Usually I am a pianist or organist, but this time I get to play the flute.  Tomorrow is the "big day" for James and Elisabeth.  Hubby took the day off, so we will probably take a run in the morning.  He wants to clean the car and I will try to get some work done in the garden.  The wedding is in mid-afternoon and we should have the evening together.  Since my Saturday is "different,"  I need to get to the house cleaning today.  TTFN

Surprise Days

I am a day late on my Thankful Thursday entry.  Why?  Because hubby awoke to a phone call that he had the day off yesterday.  So today I am thankful for the days that God gives us to just rest or catch up from the hustle and bustle.  We enjoyed "sleeping in" after about 3 hours of intense storms through the night.  It was nice to have hubby's help as it was our week to clean at church.  We rested again in the afternoon and even took an evening run together when the heat broke a little (though the humidity was such that I think we were swimming).  I am also thankful that God impressed hubby to work on Tuesday so that he was not even short of work hours!

charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

I had a wonderful anniversary yesterday.  It is simply amazing to get to spend your life with your best friend.  I am exceedingly glad to have been able to spend the day together rather than in thought from a ship and an apartment.  Hubby worked much of the day, but we had a lovely meal at the Olive Garden last night and then a cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee while we walked around a local park.  (I did find the will power to refuse a DD donut - though they are my favorite)  Hubby found just the sweetest anniversary card in the "Kim Anderson" style of black and white children with a color accent here and there.  It said "Just so you know, I only plan to tag along until about the end of time or so."  Two years ago, I had found a similar card as he was completing his final deployment.  It read "Now and always ... the only two times I want to be with you."

Back to thinking about true charity in the home.  Love is not egotistical or self-centered.  One who truly loves will not boast on their abilities or push their ideas as the best.  A loving woman seeks to lift Christ up first and then to see the promotion of those that she loves.  Love does not seek to impress others or draw attention to her own actions.  A wife, mother, or daughter does not seek acknowledgement for their acts of love, for they view their activity as "normal."  How much of your daily conversation is about self?  Are you content to serve "unnoticed" in the home and promote the welfare of others in the home?  This may be a good test of the quality of your love.

August 17, 2002 ... 8 Wonderful Years!

Sorry for the picture quality ... a picture of a picture is pitiful!

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Bickish